University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Volleyball Splits Saturday Matches At Northern Colorado
August 27, 2022 | Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – The Carolina volleyball team split its two matches at the Northern Colorado Tournament on Saturday, earning a 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara before falling to Northern Colorado in straight sets. The Tar Heels ended the weekend with a 1-2 record.
Mabrey Shaffmaster and Charley Niego finished their stay in Colorado with 34 kills apiece, while Anita Babic served as the team's primary setter, tallying 62 kills. Parker Austin led the team at the service line with six aces, while Kaya Merkler tacked on nine total blocks.
Maddy May, who saw time as libero in all three matches, had 20 digs in 10 sets of play.
MATCH 1: CAROLINA: 3, UCSB: 0
SET ONE: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 19
With nine ties and two lead changes, the first set was a back-and-forth battle between the Tar Heels and the Gauchos. With UCSB leading 17-14, Carolina went on a 12-2 run to clinch the set, highlighted by four kills from Shaffmaster. The Tar Heels outhit the Gauchos .234-.172 in the frame.
SET TWO: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 19
UCSB tallied the first point of the set, but that was the only time they held the lead in the second. Niego led Carolina on offense with five kills, while Babic dished out nine assists. The Tar Heels recorded a match-best .345 hitting percentage in the set.
SET THREE: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 17
Carolina limited the Gauchos to a .190 hitting percentage in the final set, while four Tar Heels, Charley Niego, Anita Babic, Parker Austin and Kaya Merkler, each recorded an ace.
MATCH 2: CAROLINA: 0: Northern Colorado: 3
SET ONE: Carolina: 11, Northern Colorado: 25
SET TWO: Carolina: 21, Northern Colorado: 25
SET TWO: Carolina: 12, Northern Colorado: 25
The Tar Heels struggled from the first serve against the Bears, with Northern Colorado outhitting the Tar Heels .419 to .109 in the match. With nine and eight kills respectively, Shaffmaster and Niego were the offensive leaders in the match for Carolina.
Colorado State hit .542 in the first set, .481 in the second set and .286 in the third set, never tying or giving up the lead in the first or third frames. The Bears out blocked the Tar Heels 10.5-3, while committing just seven attack errors to Carolina's 21.
UP NEXT:
The Tar Heels return to Carmichael Arena for their home opener on Sep. 2 vs. South Carolina at 6:30 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Mabrey Shaffmaster and Charley Niego finished their stay in Colorado with 34 kills apiece, while Anita Babic served as the team's primary setter, tallying 62 kills. Parker Austin led the team at the service line with six aces, while Kaya Merkler tacked on nine total blocks.
Maddy May, who saw time as libero in all three matches, had 20 digs in 10 sets of play.
MATCH 1: CAROLINA: 3, UCSB: 0
SET ONE: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 19
With nine ties and two lead changes, the first set was a back-and-forth battle between the Tar Heels and the Gauchos. With UCSB leading 17-14, Carolina went on a 12-2 run to clinch the set, highlighted by four kills from Shaffmaster. The Tar Heels outhit the Gauchos .234-.172 in the frame.
SET TWO: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 19
UCSB tallied the first point of the set, but that was the only time they held the lead in the second. Niego led Carolina on offense with five kills, while Babic dished out nine assists. The Tar Heels recorded a match-best .345 hitting percentage in the set.
SET THREE: Carolina: 25, UCSB: 17
Carolina limited the Gauchos to a .190 hitting percentage in the final set, while four Tar Heels, Charley Niego, Anita Babic, Parker Austin and Kaya Merkler, each recorded an ace.
MATCH 2: CAROLINA: 0: Northern Colorado: 3
SET ONE: Carolina: 11, Northern Colorado: 25
SET TWO: Carolina: 21, Northern Colorado: 25
SET TWO: Carolina: 12, Northern Colorado: 25
The Tar Heels struggled from the first serve against the Bears, with Northern Colorado outhitting the Tar Heels .419 to .109 in the match. With nine and eight kills respectively, Shaffmaster and Niego were the offensive leaders in the match for Carolina.
Colorado State hit .542 in the first set, .481 in the second set and .286 in the third set, never tying or giving up the lead in the first or third frames. The Bears out blocked the Tar Heels 10.5-3, while committing just seven attack errors to Carolina's 21.
UP NEXT:
The Tar Heels return to Carmichael Arena for their home opener on Sep. 2 vs. South Carolina at 6:30 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
UNC
UNC
Kills
32
43
Errors
21
7
Attempts
101
86
Hitting %
.109
.419
Points
39
57.5
Assists
28
39
Aces
4
4
Blocks
3
10.5
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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